Humanitarian Aid Worker

Bring relief to disaster-stricken areas.

Quick Stats

Outlook

Very Good

Salary Range

$19,000 – $45,000

Data from U.S. Department of Labor

What do Humanitarian Aid Workers do?

A Humanitarian Aid Worker operates in areas of the world ravaged by war, natural calamities, or man-made disasters. As a Humanitarian Aid Worker, you work to save people’s lives, ease their pain and suffering, and preserve human dignity. Aid can take many forms. Often, you provide emergency medical services as well as food, shelter, and clean water.

Communication is key in a Humanitarian Aid Worker’s job. First of all, you must be able to communicate with the people you’re trying to assist. This means having a familiarity with local languages.

You must also be able to efficiently and effectively communicate with other members of your own aid organization when securing resources like food, medical supplies, and personnel. Coordinating with other groups, such as military or police forces involved in keeping the peace, defending the area from attack, or supervising an evacuation or relocation, is also often necessary.

The situation on the ground during a crisis is constantly in flux. Because of this, the ability to think quickly and adapt on the fly is critical. Lives are at stake every moment, and the right decision at the right time can save many.

However, your life may also be in danger. Keeping a sharp eye on changing conditions and your immediate surroundings can keep you safe so that you can stay alive and continue to provide help to those who need it most.

Should I be a Humanitarian Aid Worker?

You should have
a
bachelor's
degree or higher and share these traits:

Team Player:
You're able to listen, communicate, and work with tons of different people.